When Is the Best Time
The inside looks best with sunlight. It’s the most popular place in Barcelona with 3 Million visitors each year. Thus it’s crowded most of the time. The waiting lines are long. Most of the time it takes 1-2 hours until you get to the gates. Different ways to avoid the crowds are going at different times and buying the ticket online (read below).
We strongly recommend the fast-track access ticket!
The best time of day to visit La Sagrada Familia is in the morning combined with a visit during the week. Be there right before 9 a.m. to avoid waiting lines and crowds.
How to Avoid Tourist Crowds
- Go mid-week, avoid weekends if possible. Combine it with being there early in the morning right before 9 AM. It’s not unusual that early visitors wait a couple of minutes only till they get in. If you visit outside peak season and go mid-week, you could also try the late afternoon when the light is even more perfect. In general, it’s a little less busy in the low season from October/November until March.
- Buy online tickets in advance. With your ticket and an ID you skip the waiting lines and go directly to the meeting point (not the entrance gates). Then a tour guide will walk you past the queues. Important: If you miss your allocated time slot you are not allowed to enter the site anymore.
How Much Time Do You Need at La Sagrada Familia
You need about 2-3 hours at La Sagrada Familia, as there are a lot of intriguing details to spot. If you’re not visiting the towers, then about an hour only.
Is It Worth Going up the Towers
Going up the Sagrada Familia Towers is worth it because you will witness the best of Antonio Gaudi’s craft, and you experience stunning views of Barcelona.
Review and More Tips
Experience the luminous, colorful windows and light-flooded Basilica inside. Be surprised by the extraordinary, modern composition with stylistic elements taken from nature. Antoni Gaudi developed this extraordinary design and the construction started in 1882.
Although the Basilica has eye-catching spires and is suitable for sacred celebrations, it is still not completed. Constructions may last for another 10 years – especially for the central spire that Gaudi planned to be about 170 m high. Below you can find photos from the inside as well as the outside.
Opening Hours
- October to March 9:00 to 18:00
April to September: 9:00 to 20:00
December 25th and 26th, January 1st and 6th: 9:00 to 14:00
Best Hotel Close By
AYRE HOTEL ROSELLÓN. Amazing view of Sagrada Familia from the rooftop: Just perfect for additional photos. Spacious and modern rooms, clean, quiet. Breakfast included. It gets better: You’re so close that you can visit early and avoid the crowds without getting up at 6 a.m. or earlier.
Best Barcelona Tours